The second of four SRC “Summer Casual Events” took place Thursday evening after some back-and-forth decisions that scheduled, then postponed, then reinstated the outdoor BBQ at the Browns’ Castleton residence.

A dozen Rotarians plus eight spouses and offspring were in  attendance, with appropriate masking and social distancing. And, as the saying goes, a good time was had by all.

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• This was the first opportunity to drop off donated items for our annual “School Supplies Drive.” If none of the social-event dropoff dates works for you, you can drop off donated items any time through Wednesday, August 19, at the Drumm Veterinary Hospital, 1639 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton. You can find the recommended shopping list on the website.

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Our next event is a brief Zoom video conference meeting at 6 p.m. next Thursday, July 30. Members will be emailed the links to participate.

Meanwhile, here are some scenes from Thursday’s event. Our thanks to Peter and Debbie Brown for organizing and hosting the cookout.

 

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UPDATE: Although a postponement announcement was emailed to all who had RSVP’s for tonight’s outdoor event at the Brown residence, that has changed.

Here’s the word from Peter Brown:

“After much consideration and many false starts, it our decision to have the picnic tonight.  You are all invited to come at 5 o’clock with your drinks and enjoy a socially safe conversation and/or swim.  Kids please come and swim.

“Debbie and I have a very specific plan for keeping everyone safe.  Our house has a large enough downstairs area to be able to spread us out and maintain a safe social distance inside if the weather should force us to move inside.  We will be set up to dine both outside and inside.  Jim Mendrysa will feed us at 6 p.m. So, if you come at 5 we will have plenty of time for socializing and swimming.  If you feel this is not safe you certainly are not forced to come.  However, I have discussed the plans with Dick Drumm and with Debbie Rodriguez and received clearance.  We are very much looking forward to seeing you!!  Last night we got very little rain and none before 8 p.m.”

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The first of four dropoff dates for our annual “Back to School Supplies Drive” is coming up on Thursday, July 23. That’s when Debbie and Peter Brown host an outdoor picnic.

(Incidentally, if you haven’t called in your RSVP to the Browns for the catered event, the deadline for doing so is this Sunday. Go here for details of the event.)

The school supplies push is for needy students in the Rensselaer City School District. We have been partnering with Circles of Mercy to be involved in this worthy project for seven years. Debbie Rodriguez is this year’s coordinator.

The other dropoff dates:

• August 6: Outdoor social at either Leyhane or Martinez residence.
• August 20: Social distancing dinner at Quigley’s.
• August 27: Outdoor social at Bailey residence.

(NOTE: If none of the four dates works for you, you can drop off donated items any time through Wednesday, August 19, at the Drumm Veterinary Hospital, 1639 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton.)

The shopping list recommended by Circles of Mercy:

• Pencils (Regular Lead #2 and Color)
• Pencil Sharpener
• Erasers (For Pencils)
• Pens (Black or Blue)
• Dry Erase Markers (Assorted Colors)
• Pocket Folders (Assorted Colors)
• 3 Ring Binders (in 2” and 3” Sizes)
• Loose Leaf Paper (College Ruled)
• Graph Paper
• Spiral Subject Notebooks (1, 3 and 5 Subject – College Ruled)
• Subject Dividers (for 3-ring binders)
• Plastic Zipper Pencil Cases / Boxes
• 3”X5” Index Cards
• Highlighters (Yellow)
• Rulers (Regular with Metric)
• Kleenex Tissues
• Hand Sanitizer (Small Bottles)
• Post-It-Notes
• Backpacks (No Rollers/No Wheels)
• Ear Buds (inexpensive, for computer use)
• Flash Drives (all sizes)
• Scientific Calculators (Texas Instrument TI-84)
• Hole Reinforcement Labels
• Combination Locks (for gym lockers)
• Sharpie Markers (any color)

If you do NOT plan to attend any get-together or cannot utilize the Drumm Vet drop-off point, please contact Debbie Rodriguez to arrange a dropoff or pickup of donations: 518-766-3451 or debannrod@yahoo.com.

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By now, everyone has heard about the CLYNK recycling program that lets us turn in deposit-eligible containers to raise money for our club’s annual ShelterBox donations.

Bill Dowd has been distributing the necessary bags and bar-code sticker tags, and will continue to have both available at each of our in-person summer activities.

Remember, all you need to do is drop your empties — glass, metal, plastic, whatever — in one of the approved recyclable green bags, affix the sticker, and drop off the bag of unsorted, unrinsed containers at any Hannaford supermarket returns window (there’s a hand scanner there to use so SRC gets proper credit for the bags).

It can’t much simpler. And, besides raising ShelterBox funds, you’re helping the environment. True, it’s only a nickel or so per container, but it does add up. In the first seven months of participation, we raised $400.

Here’s what the CLYNK recycling company says our impact has been over the past five months:

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The second installment of our pandemic-abbreviated “Summer Casual Calendar” will be a catered outdoor picnic at the Brown residence in Castleton next Thursday, July 23.

Like the recent Drumm-hosted event, this will be a social-distancing one, with everyone asked to wear a mask, bring their own chairs, and their own beverages, and observe all the recommended health protocols. Peter and Debbie will begin welcoming guests at 5:30 p.m., with dinner to begin about 6:15. Price is $18 for adults. Families are welcome.

If you have not yet submitted your RSVP, please do so no later than this Sunday: 518-477-7178.

RAIN DATE: The long-range weather forecast is a bit iffy for this date. Should it be rained out, it will be held the following Thursday, July 30.

The picnic buffet menu, from Talk of the Town Caterers:

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The remainder of our summer schedule:

JULY

30 — Virtual club meeting via Zoom, 6 p.m. (or rain date for Browns’ picnic)

AUGUST

01 — District 7190 “Barrow of Booze” raffle drawing.
06 — Outdoor picnic at Leyhane or Martinez residence (details TBD), 6 p.m.
13 — Virtual club meeting via Zoom, 6 p.m.
20 — Dinner meeting, Quigley’s, East Greenbush, 6:15 p.m..
27 — Outdoor picnic, Bailey residence (details TBD), 6 p.m.

(Go here for the full calendar)

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Held via Zoom video conference

Members Attending (13): Dick Drumm, Debbie Rodriguez, Bill Dowd, Phil Kellerman, Roberto Martinez, Jim Leyhane, Pat Bailey, Debbie Brown, Peter Brown, Andy Leyhane, Ray Hannan, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras.

Guests Attending: None.

Miscellany — Members were reminded of the current “Back-to-School Supplies Drive,” being coordinated by Debbie Rodriguez for Circles of Mercy. Donated items from the recommended shopping list should be brought to any of our in-person events through August 20.  … Phil Kellerman reported that Murray Forth has received confirmation from the IRS of receipt of our packet of documents seeking restoration of our tax exempt status. No projected timeline for the review process was given. … Gifts are being solicited for drawings in connection with the Monday, September 21, Gift of Life Golf Tournament, Anyone wishing to donate is asked to contact Doris Calamaras. SRC hopes to have at least one foursome in the event, scheduled for Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland.

“Summer Casual” events — Peter and Debbie Brown reminded everyone of the outdoor picnic scheduled for their residence next Thursday, July 23. Jim Mendrysa will cater the event. Everyone is asked to bring their own chairs and beverages. Cost will be $18 per person. The Browns will be welcoming visitors for swimming, drinking, and socially-distanced camaraderie — masks required — from 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:15. (The long-range weather forecast indicates rain that day. If the event is rained out, it will be held the following Thursday, July 30). … Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez will co-host an outdoor event at one of their residences on Thursday, August 6. Details are being developed. … We will hold a dinner meeting at Quigley’s at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, August 20, to try out a socially-distanced seating arrangement. … Pat Bailey and Debbie Rodriguez will co-host an outdoor event at Pat’s residence on Thursday, August 27. Details are being developed.

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We will hold an abbreviated SRC business meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, via the Zoom video conferencing system.

All you have to do is go online and be sure you use the Meeting ID number 865 3447 8230 if requested.

We hope to see you then. As we have shared with all members, we will be alternating Zoom meetings with social get-togethers. The full schedule is available as always on the SRC website’s Calendar page.Click here to access it.

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SRC members, family, and friends are once again helping less-fortunate students prepare for their return to school by participating in the annual Circles of Mercy Back-to-School Supplies Drive.

(Even though the matter of resuming classes in the fall is under debate because of the COVID-19 pandemic, at some point schools will reopen. But, no matter the date the same students still will need the supplies. They’ll simply be stored at the Circles headquarters until an opening announcement is made.)

The program, as in other years, focuses on grades (9-12) and on pre-school students, and SRC has been a major contributor for the past five years. Debbie Rodriguez again will serve as our coordinator for rounding up and delivering the donations. We must deliver our donations no later than August 21.

You can drop off your donated items at one (or more) of four events:

(1.) at our social gathering at the Brown residence on Thursday, July 23;

(2.) at the social event to be held by Roberto Martinez or Jim Leyhane on Thursday, August 6;

(3.) at our dinner meeting at Quigley’s on Thursday, August 20;

(4.) any time through Wednesday, August 19, at the Drumm Veterinary Hospital, 1639 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton.

The shopping list recommended by Circles of Mercy:

If you do NOT plan to attend any get-together or cannot utilize the Drumm Vet drop-off point, please contact Debbie Rodriguez to arrange a dropoff or pickup of donations: 518-766-3451 or debannrod@yahoo.com.

While there obviously are needy students in all districts, this effort is aimed at helping the Rensselaer City School District because it has the heaviest concentration of such children. Of its approximately 1,070 students, 68% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch compared to the state average of 52%. In addition, nearly a quarter of them live near or below the federal poverty level.

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By RICH GRIESCHE
7190 District Governor 2020-21

July begins our new Rotary year. It is like no other we have had. As a new District Governor reflecting over the past few months, Rotary has been the constant for me during the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally the figures today are staggering — 8.99 million confirmed cases, 4.46 million recovered, and, sadly, 469,000  deaths.

So, why “A Million Dreams”? Last year, I was listening to the song “A Million Dreams,” from the movie “The Greatest Showman,” and thought, “I need to use this during my District Governor year.” Little did I know at that time what we would be facing as we began 2020.

The lyrics spoke to me about Rotary. There are more than 1 million Rotarians, going through doors where no one gone before. This ties into Rotary International President Holger Knaack’s theme, “Rotary Opens Opportunities,” and the three open doors.

I think of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see. “A million dreams is all it’s gonna take, a million dreams for the world we’re gonna make.”

As Rotarians, we all have dreams and visions. Share your dreams with me. I am using this song during my year to help guide us as Rotarians so we can have that dream of the world we want to see.

Rotarians everywhere strive to make the world a better place. I believe these trying times will make us all better citizens of the world. We have been witness recently to severe unrest, protesting, and peaceful demonstrations. Rotary is the largest peace-building organization in the world. We should be proud of that. We are approaching the concept of peace with greater cohesion and inclusivity, broadening the scope of what we mean by peace-building, and finding more ways for people to get involved.

Rotary creates environments in which peace can happen. Rotarians all are peace builders, which our world needs. Rotary has vibrant programs for students and youth that can change the lives of those who participate. Through these programs, young people can earn scholarships, travel on cultural exchanges, or help a community through a service project –- all things resulting in greater world peace.

I would like to thank Immediate Past District Governor Larry Jones and his team for the leadership and guidance that got us through the past few months. During Larry’s year we formed an aggressive membership initiative we still are working on. Looking ahead, Rotary’s vision statement are words to live by: Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change -– across the globe, in our communities, and in our ourselves. Contact me to learn how you can join us in our projects.

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Held via Zoom video conference

Members Attending (13): Phil Kellerman, Dick Drumm, Bill Dowd, Dean Calamaras, Doris Calamaras, Jim Leyhane, Kevin Leyhane, Peter Brown, Debbie Brown, Ray Hannan, Charlie Foote, Mike Harkin, Roberto Martinez.

Guests Attending (1): Lindsey Conboy.

MEETING NOTES — President Dick Drumm called the meeting to order via Zoom video conferencing. He welcomed Lindsey Conboy, who just graduated from Columbia High School, one of the winners of a $1,000 SRC Scholarship. Lindsey said she will be attending Cornell University in the fall, enrolling in both the agriculture and life sciences college and the engineering college to study environmental engineering. At Columbia, she was heavily involved in numerous activities, including tennis, community photography, student council, library volunteers, chamber singing, and the Science Olympiad. Our other two scholarship winners — Shannon Tacy of Rensselaer High School and Mackenzie Brown of Maple Hill High School — joined us via Zoom at our June 18 meeting. …

We will return to Quigley’s restaurant for a “trial meeting” on Thursday, August 20. Owner John Walsh wants to get a feel for the proper layout to accomplish the necessary social distancing protocols, and this will be our first opportunity since meetings there were halted in mid-March. … It was decided to establish a different sort of “Summer Casual” schedule for July and August. We will alternate brief Zoom meetings with social picnics. That will maintain club continuity of activity through the summer. The scheduled Zoom meeting dates also will serve as potential rain dates for social events or, if additional hosts come forward, dates from which they can choose. …

Bill Dowd reported on a conversation he had with Murray Forth about potentially holding our next recycling/shredding day in late summer or early fall because such activities have a good chance of proper social distancing. Some discussion pointed out that members who do the unloading of recycled equipment tend to work physically close together, and that with the recent Chinese pullback on buying recycled materials from the U.S. the number of vendors we can partner with might be smaller than usual. We’ll consider all those factors, although we are in need of fundraising activities since the pandemic cancelled such major money activities as the bowl-a-thon, recycling day, and the Rotary Home Cooking series. Bill mentioned that, thanks to the generosity of Dick and Mary Drumm underwriting our recent outdoor picnic at their home, we raised $680 for the club  treasury.

Here is the “Summer Casual” schedule as agreed upon at this meeting. It will be modified as needed:

• Thursday, July 16, 6 p.m. — Zoom video conference meeting.
• Thursday, July 23, 6 p.m. — Catered outdoor picnic, residence of Debbie and Peter Brown.
• Thursday, July 30, 6 p.m. — Zoom video conference meeting.
• Thursday, August 6, 6 p.m. — Picnic at either Jim Leyhane’s or Roberto Martinez’s residence.
• Thursday, August 13, 6 p.m. — Zoom video conference meeting.
• Thursday, August 20, 6 p.m. — Dinner meeting, Quigley’s, East Greenbush.

NOTE: Please check the website CALENDAR page regularity for updates.

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